Phantom of the Opera

Phantom of the Opera
by Gaston Leroux
Gaston Leroux was born in Paris in 1868, and
grew up in Normandy in the north of France. He
The Life and
Career of Gaston
became interested in literature at an early age.
Leroux
He studied law in Paris, but quickly gave up 1 this
profession to concentrate on journalism. His first
real success came when L'Echo de Paris published a series of his poems2
about Parisian actresses.
Leroux's father died in 1889, and he inherited 3 a fortune4 of one million
francs. He immediately5 began to live on a grand scale6, eating in the
best restaurants and entertaining7 splendidly8. He spent the whole of his
inheritance9 in a period of six months, and then had to consider 10 how he
would earn his living.
In 1890 he became a court11 reporter for L'Echo de Paris. Soon after, he
was given a job on the more prestigious newspaper, Le Matin. He was
one of the first 'investigative' 12 journalists, and he became famous when
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
to give up = vzdát se
a poem = báseň
to inherit = zdědit
a fortune [ˈfɔːtʃən] = jmění
immediately [ɪˈmiːdɪətlɪ] = okamžitě
on a grand scale = ve velkém (měřítku)
to entertain = pobavit
splendidly = skvěle, ohromně
an inheritance = dědictví
to consider = zvážit, promyslet
a court [kɔːt] = soud → a court reporter = soudní reportér
investigative = vyšetřovací, investigativní
he solved a sensational13 case14 before it reached15 the law courts.
Leroux combined journalism with novel16 writing and stories. His first
novel, The Seeking17 of the Morning Treasures18, appeared19 in 1903. The
story was based on20 a real 18th century criminal21, Louis Cartuche.
Cartuche hid22 his treasure [poklad] in various secret locations around
Paris, and died without telling anyone where it was. To publicise23
Leroux's book, Le Matin newspaper hid [schovalo] seven 'treasures'
[pokladů] in different places [místech] around Paris, and readers of the
book were encouraged24 to find them. The Mystery of the Yellow Room,
which appeared [objevila se] in 1907, is a classic detective novel [román].
Its hero is the amateur detective Rouletabille, who investigates [řeší]
crimes by using his powers of reason 25. Leroux later wrote seven more
books featuring26 Rouletabille.
There was one part of court [soudní] reporting that Leroux did not like. He
w a s obliged27 to watch the execution28 of several29 prisoners on the
guillotine, and this disturbed30 him greatly. He became a life-long
opponent of the death penalty as a result of his experiences.
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
sensational = úžasný, senzační
a case = případ
to reach = dosáhnout, dostat se někam
a novel = román
to seek = hledat (fwi, aplikace ICQ se čte [áj sík jů], což je fonetický opis: I seek you =
hledám Tě)
a treasure = poklad
to appear = objevit se, vyskytnout se
to base on = založit na → a base = základna
a criminal = zločinec
to hide – hid – hidden = schovat
to publicise = obeznámit veřejnost, (u)dělat něčemu reklamu
to encourage = povzbudit
reason = rozum
to feature [ˈfiːtʃə] = představit (ve filmu, či knize)
to oblige [əˈblaɪdʒ] = ukládat za povinnost → an obligation = povinnost
an execution = poprava
several = několik
to disturb = rozrušit, zneklidnit
Leroux travelled widely for Le Matin, and wrote accounts31 of many
dramatic and violent32 events. In 1907, he decided to give up [vzdát se]
his successful journalistic career and become a full-time novelist.
The Phantom of the Opera was published in 1911. Leroux claimed 33 that
the idea for the story came from his personal knowledge of the Paris
Opera House and its underground lake. The story was
extremely popular with newspapers around the world,
and many of them serialised it. Sales of the novel
[román], however34, were disappointing 35. Gaston
Leroux's colourful career lasted36 nearly sixty years.
He wrote more than fifty novels [románů] in total, the
most famous being The Phantom of the Opera. He
died in 1927.
Answer please:
How would you translate:
• The Seeking of the Morning Treasure
Hledání Ranního Pokladu
• The Mystery of the Yellow Room
Záhada Žlutého Pokoje
What happens to a prisoner if (s)he receives a death penalty?
The prisoner is sentenced to death. (S)he is going to be executed.
What is the difference between: experience X an experience?
experience = zkušenost
an experience = zážitek
What does a novelist do?
A novelist writes novels (books).
What can we find under the Paris Opera House?
An underground lake.
31
32
33
34
35
36
an account = záznam, hlášení (o události)
violent [ˈvaɪələnt] = násilný
to claim = tvrdit
However, = avšak (lepší než 'but'; vždy očárkované ze všech stran, nebo aspoň za)
disappointing = chabý, neuspokojivý → to disappoint = sklamat
to last = trvat
True or False?
•
Gaston Leroux was born in the south of France near Marseilles.
FALSE: He was born in Paris (p.1)
•
He became interested in literature when he was at university.
FALSE: He became interested in literature at an early age. (p. 1)
•
His first literary success was a series of poems about Parisian
actresses. TRUE (p. 1)
•
Leroux inherited a large amount of money and he saved most of it.
FALSE: He spent the whole of his inheritance. (p. 1)
•
Leroux studied law, but he began work as a journalist. TRUE (p. 1)
•
Leroux's first novel was based on a true story. TRUE (p. 2)
•
Rouletabille was the name of the detective in eight of Leroux's books.
TRUE (p. 2)
•
The Phantom of the Opera did not sell very well when it was published
as a novel. TRUE (p. 3)
Přepište fonetická slova
[ˈfɔːtʃən]
[ɪˈmiːdɪətlɪ]
[ˈfiːtʃə]
[əˈblaɪdʒ]
[ˈvaɪələnt]
[kɔːt]
[preˈstɪdʒəs]
[ˈdʒɜːnəlɪst]
[ˈtreʒə]
[ˈpʌblɪˌsaɪz]
[ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒ]
[ˌæməˈtɜː]
fortune
immediately
feature
oblige
violent
court
prestigious
journalist
treasure
publicize
encourage
amateur
The Opera Ghost
Strange things were happening38 at the Paris Opera House that season.
37
There were rumours39 about a ghost40 in the building. No one knew when
the ______________ [pomluvy] had started. Some people said it was
Joseph Buquet who began it all.
Joseph Buquet was one of the sceneshifters41, a quiet reliable42 man. He
said that he had seen a frightening 43
figure44 in the corridors 45 of the
building. He said the _____________
[postava] was wearing a dress-suit 46.
At first he thought the man was just
one of the audience47. Then he looked
again. He saw that the _______________ [postavu] had no face – it was
a skull48! The skin49 was yellow, the eyes were black holes 50, and the
whole ________________ [postava[ was terribly thin.
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
strange [streɪndʒ] = (po)divný
to happen [ˈhæpən] = stát se, dít se, přihodit se
a rumour [ˈruːmə] = pomluva, fáma, drb
a ghost [gəʊst] = duch, zjevení, přízrak
a scene-shifter [ˈsiːnˌʃɪf.tər] = ten kdo v divadle mění pro scény kulisy
reliable [rɪˈlaɪəbəl] = spolehlivý → to rely on = spolehnout se na
frightening [ˈfraɪtnɪŋ] = hrozivý, děsivý
a figure [ˈfɪgjər] = postava, silueta (člověka)
a corridor [ˈkɒrɪˌdɔː] = chodba
a dress-suit [dres sjuːt] = velmi formální oblek
an audience [ˈɔːdɪəns] = obecenstvo, publikum
a scull [skʌl] = lebka
skin [skɪn] = pokožka, pleť
a hole [həʊl] = díra, otvor
Soon everyone at the Opera began to see _______________ [podivné]
things. One of the firemen, Pampin, said that he had gone down into the
cellars51 of the building. When he was down there, he had seen a head of
fire coming towards52 him! He was very clear about53 it. He had seen a
head of fire, but the head had no body at all54.
The people who worked at the Opera House were disturbed 55 and
excited56 by all these stories. The young girls in the corps de ballet57 were
particularly58 thrilled59 by the stories. They said the ghost was responsible
for60 all the little accidents61 that _______________ [se staly] at the Opera
House.
One evening one of the Opera's principal 62 dancer, La Sorelli, was sitting
in her dressing room. It was an important evening for her. She was going
to perform63 at a special gala _______________ [představení] for the two
managers who were retiring64.
The peace and quiet of the ____________________ [šatna herců] was
suddenly65 disturbed by the entry66 of a group of young girls from the
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
a cellar [ˈselə] = sklep
towards [tɔːdz] = směrem (k)
to be clear about sth = mít v něčem jasno, mít něco ujasněné
at all = vůbec – dává se nakonec věty. You don't love at all. = Vůbec mne nemiluješ
disturbed [dɪˈstɜːbd] = znepokojený, zneklidněný
excited [ɪkˈsaɪtɪd] = nadšený
corps de ballet [kɔr də bale] = baletní sbor
particularly [pəˈtɪkjʊləlɪ] = obvzláště, mimořádně
thrilled [ˈθrɪld] = unešený, nadšený, uchvácený radostí
to be responsible for = bý zodpovědný za
an accident [ˈæksɪdənt] = nehoda
principal [ˈprɪnsɪpəl] = hlavní, nejdůležitější
63
64
65
66
to perform [pəˈfɔːm] = účinkovat → performance = představení
to retire [rɪˈtaɪə] = odejít do důchodu
suddenly [ˈsʌdənlɪ] = náhle
an entry [ˈentrɪ] = příchod
________________________ [baletního sboru]. The girls were talking
_______________ [nadšeně].
'We've seen him, we've seen him!' one of them announced 67. 'We've seen
the ___________ [ducha]!'
Sorelli did not really believe the girls, but she was very superstitious68.
She was easily frightened69 by stories of the ghost, but she tried 70 to be
brave71.
'Pull yourselves together72,' she told
the girls.
'But we've seen him – we've really
seen him!' one of the girls insisted73.
'And Gabriel's seen him, too,' the girl
added74.
'Gabriel, the chorus-master75?' asked
Sorelli. ' What did he say?'
'He said he was talking to that strange Persian man … you know the
one?'
'Yes,' said Sorelli, 'I know the Persian.'
Everyone at the Opera House knew the Persian. The girls were
convinced76 that he had the evil eye. They were ________________
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
to announce [əˈnaʊns] = prohlásit (hlasitě a jasně), ohlásit
superstitious [ˌsuːpəˈstɪʃəs] = pověrčivá
frightened (of sth/sb) [ˈfraɪtnd] = vystrašený, vyděšený, vylekaný; byýt vystrašený (z)
to try = zkusit; snažit se
brave [breɪv] = odvážná, statečná
to pull oneself together = dát se dohromady, dát se dokupy
to insist on sth [ɪnˈsɪst] = trvat na něčem; stát si za něčím
to add [æd] = přidat, dodat
a chorus-master = vedoucí/dirigent pěveckého sboru
convinced [kənˈvɪnst] = předsvědčený → to convince = přesvědčit
[vystrašení] of him.
'So what _______________ [se stalo] ?' Sorelli asked.
'Gabriel was talking to the Persian. He looked over the Persian's
shoulder77, and he saw a ghost standing behind him! Gabriel was
terrified78!'
'What did the ____________ [duch] look like?' Sorelli wanted to know.
'He was wearing a ___________________ [velmi formální oblek], just as
Joseph Buquet described79 him. And his head was like a _____________
[lebka] ! One of the girls said.
'My mother says Joseph Buquet shouldn't talk so much,' one of the girls
said quietly. It was Meg, whose mother Madame Giry also worked at the
Opera. She was a box-keeper80.
'What did your mother tell you?' the girls asked Meg.
'She said the ghost didn't like people to talk about him,' Meg replied 81
slowly. 'She says it was because of the __________ [lóže] 5. Mum's in
charge of82 Box 5, you see. ___________ [lóže] 5 is the ______________
[duchova] box,' she told them. 'That's where he goes during
_________________ [představení]. No one else can go there.'
'Has your mother seen him, then83?' the girls asked.
'No,' Meg explained, 'you can't see him. All that talk about his
_______________ [velmi formálním obleku], and the skeleton84, and the
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
a shoulder [ˈʃəʊldə] = rameno
terrified [ˈterɪˌfaɪd] = vyděšený
to describe [dɪˈskraɪb] = popsat
a box-keeper = ten, kdo se stará o divadelní lóže → a box = lóže
to reply [rɪˈplaɪ] = odpovědět
to be in charge of sth [tʃɑːdʒ] = osoba zodpovědná za něco
then [ðen] = tedy – dává se buď úplně na konec, nebo začátek věty. Používá se velmi
často, akorát není moc slyšet, nejsme-li na něj zvyklí.
a skeleton [ˈskelɪtən] = kostra
head of fire is all just nonsense 85. Mother's never seen him. She just hears
him when he's in the _____________ [lóže].'
The girls looked at each other 86. They could not make sense of 87 Meg's
story _____________ [vůbec].
'That's what I meant about Joseph Buquet,' Meg told them. 'He shouldn't
tell all those stories. The ghost won't like it at all. He might 88 …'
________________ [náhle] the dressing-room door opened, and a
woman came in. Her eyes were wide open, and she looked really
_______________ [vyděšeně].
'Joseph Buquet!' she
gasped89. 'He's dead.
Someone found his body
in the ______________
[sklepě]. He was hanged90!'
Hovoříme-li o tom, jak moc, nebo není něco PRAVDĚPODOBNÉ,
používáme tuto škálu:
CAN'T
MAY
__________
MUST
(0%)
(20-30%)
(kolem 50%)
(100%)

V této kapitole je dvěma různými slovy vyjádřeno: vyděšená, kterými?
__________________
___________________

A co dva různé způsoby, jak vyjádřit, že někdo za něco zodpovídá?
__________________
___________________
85
86
87
88
89
90
- nonsense [ˈnɒnsəns] = nesmysl(i), hloupost(i)
each other = sebe vzájemně
to make sense of sth = porozumět (něčemu)
might [maɪt] = mohl by, od slova 'maybe' - možná, protože je tu jistá pravděpodobnost
to gasp [gɑːsp] = zalapat po dechu, ztěžka se nadechnout
hanged [hæŋgd] = pověšený; oběšený

I slovo nadšený se dá vyjádřit alespoň dvěma způsoby.
__________________
__________________

How else would you express this: I am trying understand it.
I m trying to _________ _________ ____ ____ ___.
What is it?

When people tell each other speculative stories about somebody, or
something. They are spreading (= šíří): _______________

If I can trust my friend to do what I ask him/her to do, (s)he is:
_______________

If I don't like you, even a little bit, then I don't like you ____ ________.

If nothing that I say will change your mind and keep repeating your
demand, then you are ______________ on it.

If you don't understand something because it is unclear and stupid,
then it is probably just some _______________.

Poslechněte si tuto větu z písničky Yesterday od the Beatles.
O čem zpívají?
'_____________ I am not half the man I used to be.'
________________________________________________ [přeložte]

How did Joseph Buquet describe the face of the frightening figure he
saw?
 What did the fireman Pampin see?
 Where did Pampin see that strange thing?
 Who was La Sorelli?
 What was the ghost wearing that the girls of the corps de ballet saw?
 According to Meg's monther, where does the ghost go during
performances?
What are these words?
[ˈruːmə]
[ˈkɒrɪˌdɔː]
[tɔːdz]
[pəˈfɔːm]
[pəˈtɪkjʊləlɪ]
[ˌsuːpəˈstɪʃəs]
[kənˈvɪnst]
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________